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3.0 Stars

AlwaysHungryPh P.

10

They say it’s the best Vietnamese in town, apparently after trying almost ten of their dishes on a gathering, I don’t quite agree. I still go for Pho Hoa. It’s a safe choice and it’s franchised for a reason.

When talking about condiments, Vietnamese food can be summed up to fish sauce, vinegar, and peanuts. To almost picks I’ve tried they were all dependent to these. Alone they were bland and lacking flavor.

It wasn’t that healthy either. Beef Pho Soup was around half oil and half soup. The Omelette was swimming with oil as well. The must try dish is their Pork Belly.

So their Tamarind Juice was presented well. It’s just that. The taste is really questionable. It’s like cold sinigang gone wrong. Maybe it’s my palette or an acquired taste.

Bawai's is a hidden gem of a Vietnamese restaurant, tucked away like a cozy home in the middle of small garden in the Bellitudo Lifestyle Strip in Katipunan. The place was a bit hard to find, that my family and I got lost about three times and parked a good two minute walk from the resto. The "roadtrip" was worth it though, as the overall experience was quite delightful 🏼

I know it's very unbecoming of a self-proclaimed foodie, but it was actually my first time to eat at a Vietnamese restaurant. Maybe because I didn't enjoy the food experience when I had a trip in Vietnam, when all we ate were all sorts of veggies that were bland, and I ended up in the hotel room eating Subway for dinner

Surprisingly, I enjoyed the food here in Bawai's. We were unfamiliar with the names of the dishes but I liked how the menu was very informative. Each food item had a concise description of what we should expect-- whether it was chicken, pork, fish or shrimp, and even some of the ingredients like coconut or lemongrass. The staff was also very helpful in sharing whether the food was spicy or not, as my mom cannot tolerate any form or hint of spice in her food. After a long deliberation, we ordered the Com Suon Cha (grilled pork belly), the Bun Bo Hue (noodle soup) and a carafe of Dalandan juice.

The noodle soup we ordered was for sharing, but it was slightly "bitin" between my brother and I. We ordered extra soup with no charge, which helped-- watchout though that if you order another bowl of soup, you'll be charged already. Which is just fair, and the same policy they have in Pho Hoa, as per my brother. The grilled pork was also appetizing-- the meat was soft and flavorful, and the sauce (fish sauce that was sweet and slightly spicy) was a good complement to it.

Ambiance was quite homey, with it's sturdy, wooden tables and chairs and regal interiors. Service was notable-- food was served quickly and staff members were very accommodating and friendly.

Our bill was slightly pricey though (more than PHP1,000), as their extra rice was slightly expensive than usual plus we ordered juice when we normally don't. However, overall, an excellent dining experience! Will definitely be back

Since we were trying to be more healthy, we chose the gui cuin (fresh garden roll) over the fried one. The veggies were fresh and tasty!

Our favorite was the banh xe or crispy crepe with meat and bean sprouts! So yummy! I love the fried crispy texture filled with togue! Maybe they can add mushrooms next time.

The cut of the chicken of the curry-ga was quite big. It was my first time to taste vietnamese style curry.

For dessert, we got the basil ice cream and the banh da lon. The basil ice cream was interesting. It was like eating cold creamy herb sauce! The banh da lon tasted like rainbow kakanin! Next time i will also order the other herb ice cream flavors.

It was kinda unexpected to be here on a rainy sunday lunch but to cut things short, here i am having an unexpected sunday lunch alone on a quaint vietnamese resto along white plains. The place in contrast to the congested white plains was very peaceful, the ambiance was shouting 5 star since you would feel transported into a rural village.

I had their set menu for one, at 375 that includes pork and beef pho, fresh rolls and lemonade. While i add a sticky rice and corn with coconut as my dessert.

The pho was just okay, pho hoa was abit better IMO but i like the spiciness of this one, and it was just perfect for the weather.

Fresh rolls was not bad, though it smells something weird i reckon it was the vietnamese ham. But it still taste good.

The dessert was not bad either, i was surprise it was warm. The mixture of coconut was perfect.

If you are looking for quality Vietnamese dishes, this is the spot. I came in expecting the usual dine-in, but I left with a wonderful experience and a happy belly.

We walked in and we were quickly greeted and seated. I immediately knew we were going to get prompt and attentive service, and that's exactly what we got. The ambience is also very fitting; Foliage gives the feel of a true Asian restaurant, again complemented by the great hospitality. The restaurant has a warm feel to it, nice and cozy, like a place where old friends gather to simply talk.

Now onto the food...

I'd say the dishes here have interesting combinations of flavors and spices. If I were to describe Bawai's food in three words, they would be: FRESH, DELICIOUS, and SAVORY. Let me tell you what we had:

Goi Cuon - Think of fresh Lumpia (spring rolls). This dish completely changed my taste buds forever. It was soft, crispy, and a bit sweet (probably from the caramelized pork) and paired with a rich peanut dipping sauce that literally left me licking the tiny bowl when it was done.

Bawai's Salad - Another winner! It had fresh coconut sprouts, herbs, steamed shrimps, and strips of glazed pork. I really enjoyed all the little, punchy elements that contribute to the overall flavor of the dish. My mum absolutely loved this too!

I was a huge fan of the Com Suon Cha (twice-grilled pork belly) that came with a mushroom egg pie and greens on the side. The meat was sweet, savory, and I actually enjoyed this indescribably good charred taste. Similar to a slow-braised pork, the meat was very tender and succulent. Don't ever leave Bawai's without getting this dish. Must-try! Repeat after me, MUST-TRY!

We also tried the Pho Ga. It was such an experience! It was full of chicken meat, herbs, and egg noodles. The broth was sublime. The perfect blend of heat and spice.

For dessert, we had Che Bap (think of Sapin-sapin) - a traditional Vietnamese pudding which basically marries chewy, sticky rice, corn, tapioca flour(?), and coconut cream. Of all of the sticky rice and coconut milk desserts in the Vietnamese dessert repertoire, I think this corn-stricky rice pudding rendition has to be my favorite. The one served to us was at room temperature but in my opinion, this dessert would be best served warm.

Everything was presented beautifully and the portions were generous and very filling. Mum and I left here truly satisfied. Service was well above par. It was very quick and conscientious. The waiter was so friendly, making conversation with us, refilling water frequently.

Overall, it was an amazing night for us, and I'm glad to have shared this experience with my Mum.

Craving for Vietnamese and a Tagaytay-esque ambience in the metro? Bawai's is one way to address it. Though originally from Tagaytay, this resto has branched out to QC, and somehow retained its rural-like surroundings. Furnishings give out a Neo-Vietnamese impression, another plus when eating Vietnamese staples such as pho and banh mi. Food was relatively good, but kinda pricey for its class. Nonetheless, this place is a good way to treat yourself to an "escape" from the hustle and bustle of the Metro.

I first had Bawai's when they only had 1 branch in Silang. I think it was more than 5 years ago. I remember having a great dinner with my family. Back then you had to call ahead and reserve a table, and also pre-order most of your food.

I don't know why we haven't gone back after that visit, but we're really happy that they branched out here in Manila already! No need to go to the south anymore!

We ordered their bestsellers, the ones with the small leaf in their menu.

This is a staple Vietnamese appetizer for us. I really liked it but I kinda like my peanut sauce with less hoisin.

️️️️Bawai's Salad - fresh heart of a coconut with herbs, glazed pork and steamed shrimps with house dressing 🏻

This was a surprise! Very light and refreshing. Even my youngest brother loved this one, and he doesn't even eat ubod. He ordered another one after we finished everything on the table. That's how good it was! Must order! 🏻

If you love curry, you MUST order this!!! All of us loved this dish! I could taste the lemongrass, which is a plus. The curry is not as heavy as Indian curry. The chicken is cooked perfectly and is very tender. It's kinda hard to explain but please, please order this!

This is good too, but I wish the sauce was lighter. Maybe less fish sauce? Again, my brothers loved this dish.

️️️️Ca Phe Sua Da - Trung Nguyen iced coffee with condensed milk.

I don't think anyone can go wrong with Vietnamese coffee.

I would definitely come back! Maybe in their Silang branch for the more homey ambiance. My overall thought? Dining in Bawai's felt like having my own Vietnamese grandmother cook hearty dishes for me. Nothing too fancy, but always hits the right spot! 🏻

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I would give this 10 stars if I could!

I'm so sorry for the really long review, I had time to kill while waiting for the rest of the family to finish their food.